Photo Challenge 9

A Devotional by Debbie DeRienzo
Prayer by Margot Cioccio

Meet the other two members of our family... Coconut the cat and Cinnamon the rabbit. This photo was taken upon their first meeting. I LOVE the intensity of their eye-to-eye contact! They just do...

n't know what to make of each other. Two entirely different species... and in the wild.. one eats the other!!! One is an herbivore.. one a carnivore. There are many other differences too... obviously, they have differect color fur, different eyeballs, different ears and SO much more. But as you look closer, you can see some similiarities. Their back legs are shaped the same and serve a similar function. They both LOVE being cuddled. They are quick and agile and can get away from danger very quickly. So, while upone first meeting they may have seemd to each other quite strange. After time you get to see that they share some things as well. 

 This makes me think of the apostle Pauls letter to the Galatians, when he announced, "In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28). This also makes me think of the famous quote.. "Why can't we all just get along?". 

 Many times we can be jugdemental of others. We can compare them to ourselves and if they somehow don't fit in with our ideals we allow ourselves to create friction with them. Jesus hung out with some VERY different people. Lepers, tax collector, fishermen, SINNERS. None of His friends looked like Him, but... He loved them unconditionally. He embraced their individuality and used it to further the kingdom of God! I am guessing that some of you reading this have issues with a co-worker, or an in-law, or even a spouse. Perhaps you just don't see eye to eye. I would encourage you to embrace the uniquness of the people God created around you and learn to love outside of the quirks/differences another has. Love and acceptance can move mountains and break down many barriers. So, today if there is someone you are having trouble accepting, make an effort to show some kindness, some unconditional love. And who knows, you may discover (like Coconut and Cinnamon) that you can have a friendship/relationship you never though possible.

Prayer: 
Lord today we lift up that person who seems so different to us. That person we just can't see how to connect with. Lord we pray that you will bless them and help them to be the person you have created them to be. Help them to experience your love, give them mercy in the places where they are falling short of your plan. Fan the flames of the places in their life that are burning brightly for you. Help us to see them with your eyes. Help us to look past the differences and to see where there are things we have in common so that we can begin to understand one another. Help us to have the courage to experience the wonder and uniqueness of someone else with out fearing loosing our own identity and uniqueness. Make a way where there seems to be no way that this relationship may one day speak loudly, another testimony of how you are God of the impossible.